The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

I answer. (1) According to some Authors or Maintainers of this Opinion, I see not but that the Lord Christ is as much our Evangelical Righteousness as he is our Legal. For our Legal Righteousness he is not in their Judgment, by a proper Imputation of his Righteousness unto us, but by the Communication of the fruits of what he did and suffered unto us. And so he is our Evangelical Righteousness also. For our Sanctification is an effect or fruit of what he did and suffered for us. Eph. 5.25, 26. Tit. 2.14.

2. None have this Evangelical Righteousness, but those who are in order of nature at least, justified before they actually have it. For it is that which is required of all that do believe, and are justified thereon. And we need not much enquire how a man is justified, after he is justified.

3. God hath not appointed this Personal Righteousness in order unto our Justification before him in this life, though he have appointed it, to evidence our Justification before others, and even in his sight, as shall be declared. He accepts of it, approves of it, upon the account of the free Justification of the person, in and by whom it is wrought. So he had respect unto Abel and his Offering. But we are not acquitted by it from any real charge in the sight of God, nor do receive Remission of sins on the account of it. And those who place the whole of Justification in the Remission of sins, making ⟨p. 222⟩this personal Righteousness the condition of it, as the Socinians do, leave not any place for the Righteousness of Christ in our Justification.